Wincanton extends its UK retail distribution

Tuesday 01 February 2011 - Editorial Assistant

Leading European supply chain provider Wincanton has renewed an exclusive logistics deal with global toy manufacturer Mattel, it was revealed today.

The contract, thought to be worth £24 million, was originally signed in 1999 and means the supply chain company will continue to be the toy brand’s sole distributor in the UK.

Wincanton has existing deals with some of the retail industry’s biggest names, including Tesco, Asda, Morrisons and Marks & Spencer.

Chris Kingshott, Managing Director of Wincanton, commented: “This contract renewal is great news for Wincanton and the Corby Distribution Centre, and we are delighted to be continuing our relationship with Mattel.

“The agreement is testament to the operational excellence we achieve for this customer, working in partnership with them to support their business needs, particularly during challenging periods.

“This renewal will also enable us to continue to invest in the Corby centre, which plays such a vital role in delivering logistics solutions to our customers.”

The end of last year was significant for Wincanton, with Eric Born becoming CEO of the distribution firm and Carphone Warehouse signing up for its services in December.

Mattel achieved global net sales of $1.83 billion () in its fourth quarter and it produces over 100 toy brands for the European, Asia Pacific, North, Central & South American markets.

David Rhodes, Northern European Supply Chain Director at Mattel, said: “Wincanton has been our trusted logistics partner for over ten years now, providing seamless support for UK offer through its Corby distribution centre.

“This site is the hub for all of our products for this market, and Wincanton’s ability to handle peaks in activity over the Christmas trading period is crucial to our business. We look forward to continuing to work with the team.”